Haskell secures District 5 race

Alexander "Sandy" Haskell is the newest member of Aiken County Council, representing District 5.

The political newcomer topped his opponent, Democrat Judy Hamilton, in the special election to fill the seat former Councilman Eddie Butler vacated Tuesday.

Haskell garnered 76 percent of the vote (671 votes) to Hamilton's 22 percent (199 votes).

"It has been a long fight, a long campaign. I am pleased with the outcome, and I want to thank everyone who made this possible. I am pleased that it was a clean campaign. There was no mud-slinging," Haskell said after the final results were released and he shook hands with Hamilton. "There are going to be some very big shoes to fill; Butler was on Council for upwards of 20 years. I want to keep Aiken County fiscally conservative."

Haskell will be sworn in sometime before a special called meeting on Nov. 10.

Hamilton joked with Haskell that she would be in the front row at every County Council meeting to watch him and gauge whether or not she would run again in 2010 when the seat's term is up.

"I am encouraged, because he is not a career politician. So I feel he will bring fresh ideas to the table, as I could have," she said.

Voter turnout in the District 5 special election was improved from the previous elections, but only marginally so with a 7 percent turnout.

"I am disappointed in the lack of turnout," Hamilton said. "More people need to get involved in Aiken County and its politics, because it does affect them."

There were also three municipal elections Tuesday - Wagener, Monetta and Burnettown.

There will be no run-off elections in either municipality as candidates are elected by plurality, not by majority.

Mike Miller was unchallenged for Wagener mayor, so there was no election. Former Mayor Steve Carver chose not to run for re-election.

Candidate Marlon Hudson and incumbent John Hudson will fill the two Town Council seats with 45 percent of the vote each, beating out Andy O'Byrne.

In the Town of Monetta, the election filled two Town Council seats. The winners were incumbent Michael Cumbee with 40 percent of the vote and Nathan Shuler with 30 percent over Charles McKay's 27 percent.

In the Town of Burnettown, the election was for mayor and two Town Council seats. Incumbent Mayor C.H. Williams won over challenger Chuck Mason with 77 percent of the vote. Trevor B. Ward and James E. McIntosh, a former Council member, were the victors with 34 and 24 percent of the vote, respectively, winning over T.R. Carver, incumbent Bobby Griffin Jr. and David Glenn Minitor.